Combined air-brake and slack-adjusting mechanism.



IN VENT 0R13',

Patented nec. le, |9o2l 2 Sheetsf-Sheet 2.

COMBINED AIR BRAKE AND SLAGK ADJUSTINQ MECHANISM.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES 'ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES M. CRAIG AND WILLIAM H. BUCK, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

COMBINED AIR-BRAKE AND SLACK-ADJUSTING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,196, dated December16, 1902.

Application filed February 27, 1902. Serial No. 95,932. (No mcdelJ To@ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that We, JAMES AM. CRAIG and enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the iigures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in combined air-brake andslackadjusting mechanism, our object being to obtain adirect andindependent application of the brakes to the wheels of both trucks oftheV car, whereby the brakes are applied simultaneously to both sets ofwheels and flat wheels avoided. vogue employinga single piston in thebrakecylinder the brakes are not applied to the wheels of both trucks atthe same time. Hence the wheels to which the brakes are rst applied willbe locked, while the car continues to move until the brakes are appliedto the other wheels, thus resulting in flat wheels onthe truck to whichthe brakes are first applied. We employ two pistons in thebrake-cylinder, each piston acting through its stem on a cylinder -leverto apply the brakes to the wheels of each truck, making the brakeapplication absolutely direct, positive, and simultaneous on both setsof wheels.

Our further-object is to economize air by using a smaller brakecylinder, obtain a quicker application of the brakes by reason ofshorter piston travel, and take up all slack,

thus making the piston travel uniform on all cars of the same-train.A

Having brieiiy outlined our improvedcon-' the accompanying drawings, inwhich is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure `l is a plan view,`

` l. partly in section, illustrating our improved Under the systemsheretofore in` apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion ofFig. l, viewed in the direction of the arrow, adjacent the last-namedligure. Fig. 3 is a detail view, partly in section and on a largerscale, illustrating a part of the slack-adjusting mechanism. Figs. 4 and5 illustrate a cylinder-lever, partly in section and on a larger scale,in connection with its cooperating ratchet-bar. These views show saidlever in two positions. Fig. 6 is a top or plan view of a set of brakemechanism, showing our improvements, the parts being shown on a smallerscale than in the otherwiews.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the brake-cylind er, in which is located twopistons 6 and 6a, separated by an interiorly-projecting ring. Thecylinder, as shown in the drawings, is formed in two parts, and a ring 7is inserted between them. Each cylinder part is proyided with anexteriorlyprojecting flange, and the parts are fastened together bypassing bolts through registering f apertures formed in the ring and thetwo flanges. It must be understood, however, that we do not limitourselves to this construction oli cylinder, as any other suitableconstruction adapted to answer the purpose may be employed. The interiorportion of the ring 7 forms a stop for both pistons, limiting theirinward travel. rIhis ringis bored on one side, as shown at 7, to form aninlet port or passage to the cylinder-chamber from the triple valve 8,connected with the brake-pipe 9. Any suitable I construction of triplevalve may be employed. 'The auxiliary reservoir forming part of theordinary brake-mechanism equipment is not shown in the drawings, sincethis feature forms no part of our invention'. In the complete equipment,however, the auxiliary reservoir will be connected with the triple valvein the ordinary or any convenient or suitable The piston-stems 8 aresurrounded by coilsprings 9, locatedV between the pistonsandthecylinder-heads. Thefunction of these IOO or exposed extremities ofthese stems are respectively connected with the adjacent extremities oftwo levers 10, which we will term cylinder-levers, the cylinder andoperated from the pistons of the latter. The extremities of these leversremote from their connections with the piston-stems are recessed toreceive dogs 12. Each dog has a piston portion 12a and a stem 12C. Thisstern is surrounded by a coilspring 13, acting to force the dogoutwardly to engagement with the teeth 14a of a bar 14, which passesbetween the outer extremity of the dog and an antifrictional roller15,mount ed on the adjacent extremity of the lever. There are tworatchet-bars 14, one for each of the levers 10. The inner extremity ofeach of these bars is slotted, as shown at 14C, to receive a connectingpin or bolt 16, mounted on one extremity of a bar 17, slidably mountedin a frame 1S, secured to the bottom of the carin any suitable manner.Flach bar 17 is provided with ratchet-teeth and slides in a way 18a.Between these ways is located a central bar18, which bounds them on oneside, while on the opposite side of each is located a bar 18d, carryinga springactuated dog 19, engaging the ratchet-teeth of the adjacent bar17. The two cylinderlevers are connected by a rod 20, whose extremitiesare pivoted to the levers, as shown at 21. These pins or bolts form theleverfulcrum.

The extremities of the bars 14 are respectively connected with levers 22and 23 by links 24. These levers are fulcrumed on the car, as shown at25 and 26. A corresponding extremity of each lever is connected, bymeans of a rod 27, with the live truck-lever 28 of theordinary brakedevices. The only difference between these levers 22 and 23 is that thelever 23 is extended to form an arm 23, connected with the handbrake-rod 29. The lever 22 maybe likewise extended for the same purpose,if desired.

When our improved apparatus is in use, the air is admitted to thechamber of the cylinder 5 between the two pistons 6 and 6", and as bothpistons are free to move they are thrust outwardly in oppositedirections and apply the brakes through the instru mentality of themechanism and by virtue of the connections heretofore described. Duringthis brake application the ratchet-bars 14 are moved inwardly or in thedirection indicated by the arrows lying parallel with the bars in Figs.1 and 6. The length of the slots 14c of the levers 14 indicate thenormal and proper degree of slack allowed the brake-shoes when thebrakes are released. If there is any superiiuous slack in thebrake-rigging, the bars 14 will continue the movement after the bolts 16reach the extremities of the slots 14L nearer the levers, and when thisoccurs the bars 17 will be actuated to take up the slack. During thisoperation these bars 17 are thrust in opposite directions parallel witheach other since theyare adjacent land are held by the coperating dogs19 in the positions to which they are respectively thrust by thebrake-applying devices. When the brakes are released, the bars 14 willbe moved in the opposite direction, and when the extremities of theslots 14C farther from the levers engage the bolts 16 if the inwardtravel of the cylinder-piston is not complete the dogs 12 will allow thelever extremities to move on t the ratchet-bar the required distance,since the dogs will slip over one or more teeth, as may be necessary.This operation `is evident fromthe construction heretot'ore described.Suitable means are shown in Fig. 2 for connecting the frame 1S with thepart 30 of the car by means ot` bolts 31.

we claim is 1. The combination with brake devices, of

troducing air to the cylinder between the pistons, stems connected withthe pistons and protruding from the opposite extremities of thecylinder, levers connected with the protruding piston-stems andsuitablyfulcrumed, a stationary frame suitably mounted, ratchetbarsslidable in the frame, dogs mounted in the frame and engaging said bars,and a suitable connection between the ratchet-bars and the piston-stemlevers, and between the said levers and the brake-levers of thecar-trucks,

stantially as described.

2. The combination with brake devices, of 'a cylinder, two pistonstherein, means for introd ucing air tothe cylinder between the pistons,stems connected with the pistons and protruding from the oppositeextremities of the cylinder, levers connected with theprotrudingpiston-stems and suitably fulcrumed, said levers beingprovided with spring-held dogs, ratchet-bars passing through the upperextremities of the levers adjacent the dogs, and slack-adjustingmechanism connected with each ratchet-bar and the brake-levers of /thecar-trucks, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a brake-cylinder,two pistons located therein andnormally arranged to permit the introduction of the operating fluidbetween them, stems connected with the piston and protruding from thecylinder, levers connected with the protruding piston-stems and suitablyfulcrnmed, springheld dogs carried by the levers, ratchet-bars connectedin operative relation with the levers and engaged by the dogs, the saidbars being slotted to provide for normal slack of thebrake-shoes,s1ackadj usting ratchet-bars, and pins connecting theslack-adj usting bars with the slotted bars, said pins passing throughthe slots of the last-named bars, substantially as described.

4. The combination with brake devices, of

troducing air to the cylinder between the pistons, stems connected withthe pistons and protruding from the opposite extremities of Having thusdescribed our invention, what a cylinder, two pistons therein, means forin-r` for taking up slack in the brake-rigging, sub-` a cylinder, twopistons therein, means for in- IOO IIO

f lol thecylinder, levers connected with the pro 1truding. piston-stemsand suitably fulcrumed `and provided with spring-held dogs andantifrictional rollers, a ratchet-bar passing between the dog and theroller of each lever,a stationary frame suitably mounted, ratchetbarsslidable in the frame, dogs mounted in the frame and engaging said bars,a slotted con` `nection between the last-named ratchet-bars and theratchet-bars connected with the levers, and a suitable connectionbetween said last-named ratchet-bars and the brake-levers of thecar-trucks, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the truck-brake levers, of a cylinder having acentrally-located circumferential interiorlyprojecting ring,two pistonslocated in the cylinder-chamber on opposite sides of the ring, means forintroducing air to the cylinder between the two pistons, stems connectedwith the pistons and protruding from the cylinder, levers having oneextremityof each connected with the piston-stems, the opposite extremityof each lever being provided with a dog and a roller suitably separated,a rod connecting the two levers intermediate their extremities, aratchet bar passing between the dog and roller of each lever, aconnection between one extremity of each of said bars and a brakeleverof a truck, the opposite extremity of said bar being slotted, a suitableframe made fast to the car, two ratchet-bars slidable on the frame, dogsengaging the respective ratchet-bars, and a pin connecting the lastnamedratchet-bars with the slotted bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we atlix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

J AMES M. CRAIG. WILLIAM HL BUCK.

Witnesses:

p DENA NELSON, A. J. OBRIEN.

